Category: Videogames

Sanctum 2 Interview With Executive Producer Ted Lange

Here’s an interview with Reverb Publishing executive producer Ted Lange on Sanctum 2. The game was developed by Coffee Stain Studios for PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. It combines tower-defense strategy and first-person shooter action. Lange talks about improvements made over the original Steam-only game, the different types of levels, the various characters and classes, and more. Check out the interview and let me know if Sanctum 2 is something that interests you!

On a side note, I think this is the first videogame interview I’ve done that incorporates vaping. I’ve known Ted for a few years (I think we first met when he was working on the first Guitar Hero games) and I’m thrilled that he has made the switch from smoking to vaping.

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

This weekend, I’ll be playing two games that are incompatible with each other. First up is one of the worst games of all time — The Packing Game. As some of you know, I’m moving at the end of the month. In order to save some cash, I’m going to try to pack as many boxes as possible. (I’ll let the professionals handle the kitchen and furniture though.) My apartment currently looks like one of the ugliest games of fort ever played…or maybe part of a level in a stealth-action game.

Interfering with The Packing Game is the Heel Injury game. Yeah, I hurt myself last night and my heel is swollen. I’m alternating hobbling around and icing it. Hopefully it calms down enough so that I can get some packing done this weekend.

So yeah, my weekend playlist sucks. Hopefully yours doesn’t! What games are you playing this weekend?

Coffee Talk #582: EA + LucasArts = ???

In case you’ve been living under a rock (a common occurrence in the Dagobah System), The Walt Disney Company and EA have entered into a multi-year licensing agreement that allows the latter to publish Star Wars games. BioWare, DICE, and Visceral will be the EA studios handling the upcoming games. It’s been lots of fun reading and listening to reactions on the deal. Some of them are just…crazy. Some people are acting like Disney handed over the rights to Star Wars to a legion of baby seal killers that hunt whales and burn down rain forests on the side…more

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, the unsuccessful Kickstarter pitch for crowd-funding a Deathstar, Olivia Munn’s recent nipple slip, or the glory of black sesame vanilla frozen yogurt, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

In case you’ve been living under a rock (a common occurrence in the Dagobah System), The Walt Disney Company and EA have entered into a multi-year licensing agreement that allows the latter to publish Star Wars games. BioWare, DICE, and Visceral will be the EA studios handling the upcoming games. It’s been lots of fun reading and listening to reactions on the deal. Some of them are just…crazy. Some people are acting like Disney handed over the rights to Star Wars to a legion of baby seal killers that hunt whales and burn down rain forests on the side.

Perhaps I shouldn’t have been surprised by the harsh reactions of some gamers, a few journalists, and a couple of developers. EA has a bad reputation that has been exaggerated to the point of the company being selected as the worst in America by readers of The Consumerist. That distinction is preposterous; there are dozens (hundreds?) of companies in the banking, pharmaceutical, oil, and tobacco industries that are way worse for Americans. Perhaps I was being naive in thinking that all gamers should be happy that Star Wars will live on in the gaming universe. I’m just having a hard time understanding all the negativity.

I wonder what alternatives haters of this deal would have preferred. Not many publishers are in a position to pay “Disney money.” As far as American publishers go, Activision and Microsoft could afford it and after that…I can’t think of anyone else. While Star Wars has certainly become a global phenomenon, its identity is very much rooted in America. It would have been strange if Disney licensed the rights to a European or Japanese developer. Even thinking about a Star Wars game from Konami or Ubisoft feels weird.

Perhaps there wasn’t a perfect partner for Disney. No matter what, some gamers would have bitched and moaned about any publisher that paid for the rights to make Star Wars games. EA certainly has the money and talent to make some great ones. While there’s no guarantee that the company will produce top-quality games, at least the potential is there. Isn’t that better than not having any Star Wars games at all?

Anyway, what’s your take on the deal? How do you feel about EA making Star Wars games?

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

I just realized that I have an unredeemed game code for Guacamelee! I’m shocked that I’ve been putting it off for so long. As a fan of old-school platformers, luchadores, and puns,  this game seems right up my alley. (And to be completely honest, Nacho Libre is one of my guilty pleasures.) I’m also keen on supporting indie developers like Drinkbox Studios. The game is also a result of Sony’s Pub Fund, which a few of my friends work on. With so many things going in its favor, it seems that I’m destined to enjoy Guacamelee! A few of my friends (with a predilection for indie titles) have been raving about the game, so hopefully it lives up to the hype I’ve built up in my silly head.

How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?

Noah Falstein Appointed Google Chief Game Designer

Between Android and Chrome OS, gaming has been a small but growing part of Google’s business. With Noah Falstein’s recent appointment as chief game designer, it looks like Google’s gaming ambitions are growing. However, there’s a lot of speculation as to what exactly those plans are and which products they’ll cover. Many have surmised that the company will up its Android gaming efforts, while others believe that Google Glass will be getting games.

For some background info on Falstein, here’s a clip from TechCrunch:

According to his bio Falstein’s been in the computer games industry since 1980, spanning companies such as LucasArts, 3DO, and Dreamworks Interactive, and is the designer behind a number of hit titles. He most recently ran his own consultancy, The Inspiracy, which offered companies help on game design, development and business, as well as being a regular on the lecture and speaking circuit.

A major interest of Falstein is the field of “Serious Games,” which he defines as “Using Games, Game Technology, or Game Industry Techniques for a purpose other than pure entertainment.” The list of Serious Games projects Falstein has been involved in spans anything from using game techniques to improve health and education, to financial projections.

The Google I/O developer conference is a few weeks away, so the company’s plans for gaming and Falstein’s role should be clarified then. For now, let’s play the speculation game! What do you think Google’s gaming plans are for the near future?

Source

Coffee Talk #580: The Appeal of Videogame Live Streaming?

My friend Paul and I were talking about the popularity of videogame live streaming…and how we don’t get it. Since both of us are out of the target demographic (he’s Statler, I’m Waldorf), there’s a very real chance that it’s simply a generational thing that’s beyond our understanding. Hopefully, you guys and gals can help me understand why millions of people enjoy watching someone playing a single-player game, because I don’t see the appeal. Right now, I’m all Edwin Starr when it comes to live streaming: “What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.”

Where’s the fun in…more

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, losing count of the number of injured Lakers, attempting (again) to master rebuildable dripping atomizers, or cheesecloth, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

My friend Paul and I were talking about the popularity of videogame live streaming…and how we don’t get it. Since both of us are out of the target demographic (he’s Statler, I’m Waldorf), there’s a very real chance that it’s simply a generational thing that’s beyond our understanding. Hopefully, you guys and gals can help me understand why millions of people enjoy watching someone playing a single-player game, because I don’t see the appeal. Right now, I’m all Edwin Starr when it comes to live streaming: “What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.”

Where’s the fun in watching a person play through a single-player game? Wouldn’t you rather…oh, I dunno…play the game yourself? Do people use live streams to make purchasing decisions? That’s somewhat understandable. I could almost buy the argument that watching a live stream can give a gamer a more honest view of a game. However, I much rather read a review from a critic that I trust. That seems like a more efficient use of time.

It kind of bugs me that I feel like a crotchety old man that just doesn’t get it. That’s where you come in! Please help me understand the appeal of videogame live streaming in the context of single-player games. If you enjoy them, kindly list the reasons in the comments section. If you don’t, but understand why other people do, then please explain it to me. Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.

What Are You Playing This Weekend?

After working on secret-project game, I’m itching to run around and beat the crap out of bad guys using a variety of superheroes. I’m also gearing up for the Iron Man 3 review screening on Monday. With all of that in mind, I think this weekend is going to be all about Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2. I love these kinds of action-RPGs — always have. From Baldur’s Gate: Dark Alliance to X-Men: Legends to Justice League Heroes, I’m always down to beat the crap out of minions, break objects to find power-ups, and occasionally tackle boss characters. For my tastes, it’s a tried and true formula that I can’t get enough of.

How about you? What’s on your weekend playlist?

Insomniac’s Ryan Schneider Talks Ratchet & Clank Movie

Insomniac brand development director Ryan Schneider talks about the upcoming Ratchet & Clank movie in this GameSkinny interview. I was totally jazzed by the article, but I have a lot of biases here — I’m a mark for Insomniac, I’m quite fond of Ryan, and I’ve been friends with the interviewer for years. Naturally, I want to see if you guys and dolls are excited about a Ratchet & Clank movie as I am. Before we get to that, here’s a clip from the interview: Continue reading “Insomniac’s Ryan Schneider Talks Ratchet & Clank Movie”

This Week’s Videogame Release

There are a couple of interesting games hitting store shelves this week. As a sci-fi nerd, I’m excited to see what Digital Extremes delivers with the new Star Trek game, which is based on JJ Abrams’ Star Trek universe. I loved the first movie and I’m a fan of the developer, so I have high hopes for the game. Survival-horror fans will want to check out Dead Island: Riptide for another dose of tropical frights. If you missed out on Dragon’s Dogma then you ought to consider Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, which is a re-release of the original with loads of new content.

Any of you picking up new games this week?

Coffee Talk #578: Google Fiber Rage

I love Google Fiber…but it’s pissing me off. Last year, I wrote about Google Fiber and the dream of gigabit Internet. Seeing the service spread from Kansas City to Austin to Provo makes my heart soar and crushes it at the same time. While idiot executives at Time Warner Cable (the crap-bag company that currently provides my Internet service) claim that nobody wants gigabit Internet, anyone with common sense can see that these speeds would drastically change the types of Internet services offered and what people can do online. Those kinds of speeds are transformative and…more

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, Derek Jeter’s broken (again) ankle, the start of the NBA playoffs, or Jennifer Love Hewitt’s surprising second act, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I love Google Fiber…but it’s pissing me off. Last year, I wrote about Google Fiber and the dream of gigabit Internet. Seeing the service spread from Kansas City to Austin to Provo makes my heart soar and crushes it at the same time. While idiot executives at Time Warner Cable (the crap-bag company that currently provides my Internet service) claim that nobody wants gigabit Internet, anyone with common sense can see that these speeds would drastically change the types of Internet services offered and what people can do online. Those kinds of speeds are transformative and the sooner more people have them, the sooner online services can evolve.

It’s not even a chicken-and-egg proposition in my mind. There are hundreds of companies in America that would enable consumers to do all kinds of interesting things online in a way that they can’t today. American ISPs are a barrier — one that will remain for the foreseeable future unless drastic changes are made. For the most part, there’s no incentive for ISPs to advance because most people are covered by monopolies or duopolies. Cable companies and telephone companies are mostly content with being nearly as fast or just a bit faster than the other guy.

Imagine how much better online video, video communications, and online gaming would be if the majority of American Internet services and consumers had access to gigabit Internet? You’d be able to stream 1080p video without buffering. You’d be able to enjoy crystal-clear full-screen video chat with friends and family on the other side of the country. Online games could include more players in a lag-free environment. Perhaps RPadholic smartguy would be able to update his PlayStation 3 in a timely fashion. Those are just some of the improvements gigabit Internet would allow for existing services. There are loads of new services that won’t work (well) with current Internet speeds, but would soar with widely available gigabit Internet.

So yeah, I’m thrilled that Google Fiber is doing well in Kansas City and will be rolled out in two additional cities in the future…but it’s also making me hate Time Warner Cable even more.